Ottolenghi Spitalfields — Restaurant in London

Our family of three visited here Saturday 23rd July for what was close to one of the best lunches I can remember. From the subtle recommendation of a chilled red, and it was perfect for a really hot summers day, to the baby / child friendly nature of the restaurant.

The lunch menu here is a main with sides that are a choice of two salads from the four or five available. The attention to gluten free and vegan was well noted, excellent work for such a delicious selection from which to choose.

On arrival it gave that assurance that the climate and ambience of the restaurant is of paramount importance to guests, and staff alike. The staff were indeed of a top calibre for a restaurant in the city of London, friendliness and attentiveness go hand in hand and the staff were lovely. Let’s be clear here though, this is not a restaurant bragging about its history. It is quintessentially modern just as Ottolenghi himself is. His character and most importantly his flavour knowledge shone through like a beacon across the menu.

The attention to small details left very little to criticise, only admire. Even down to the highchair, when plastic and metal appear often a staple the designer wooden option was a very nice addition. If more restaurants embraced this approach, a young family such as ours could enjoy many more restaurants on the culinary circuit, for me a sad restriction of many is that are Deliberately child hostile. Thankfully not here and this actually meant so much. I could continue to write about the many pleasing aspects though I am also at liberty to tell you, you need to eat here here’s why.

For the experience as a whole, I will invest in an Ottolenghi cook book, for no other reason than my daughter growing up eating interesting, incredibly tasty and wholesome food.

And on to the food since that is presumably what you want to know about. Finally a restaurant that brings authentic Turkish / Mediterranean/ Middle Eastern dishes to the masses. The sheer diversity of flavours for the palate is in abundance. The breads to start set a really pleasing intro into the rest of the meal. High quality olive oil accompanied and the photo alas left a little taste of what you got. The focaccia and sourdough were not to be missed and highly recommended. The dishes are presented very much as sharing plates bringing a quirky tapas presentation to the meal. That said we stuck to our own salads and mains mostly since these were specific choices. The wife’s sea bass was unlike sea bass I’d ever tasted with a real delicate but meaty give within its filleted texture. The lamb kebab on a bed of leaves, herbs and pickle with tatziki complimented the meat brilliantly, the garnish was as big a star as the lamb itself.

The salads including butter bean mash, heritage tomato salad, aubergine with samphire, the latter gave texture to the dish. Especially with Aubergine where the almost puréed form can quite often be slimy, not here. The last salad a roasted cauliflower delight that hummed and gave spice, and a waning heat to an often bland vegetable when simply boiled.

This was a birthday celebration and not one we told the restaurant about sadly. We left there with cakes from the shop / cake counter and so this extended the experience to late tea after baby went down.

If you are looking for something modern and not the usual European approach many chefs serve up you are definitely in...

Always loved watching Ottolenghi's food programmes so we decided to try one of his restaurants. We chose Spitafields because we liked the unusual looking menu which had different flavour combinations and ingredients we haven't even heard of. So we were really interested on this menu and couldn't wait to try it. And let me tell you it didn't disappoint at all! Food was out of this world, every dish we had was even better than the last. All the flavours and ingredients on each dish complemented each other in the most amazing way and it felt like we had entered into a totally new cuisine. They recommend 3 to 4 dishes per person, and you really do need that. Every dish is light and small. It's like a Middle Eastern/Mediterranean version of tapas. So if you are sharing you will definitely need a lot of dishes to fill you up. There is plenty of choice for vegetarians and vegans. The menu is split up into 3 sections, first two sections are the vegetarian/vegan meals and then the last section has meat/fish options. So there is something for everyone. We had the roasted cauliflower, grilled courgette, roasted aubergine, taktouka aubergine, roasted cod, octopus saganaki (which was very chewy), and the chicken pastilla. The service was quick and they bring dishes out when they are ready, not altogether. Each dish is quite expensive so don't be shocked when you see the bill. When we were handed out bill, we asked for the service charge to be omitted since it was optional. Our waitress took offence to this, but we had no problems with her and her service, she was excellent. Since the charge was optional, we didn't want to pay for it as it was already such an expensive meal. The desserts we not up to the same standard as the food, no inspiration from the Middle East at all, so was disappointed. The display was beautiful but the portions were small and expensive, so I do not recommend getting a dessert. We paid £4 for a tiny little financier that you could easily fit inside your mouth! Besides the expensiveness and the rip off desserts we had a really good foodie experience and would definitely return again as it is worth the money. As well as the restaurant there is the cafe area in the front so don't be confused when you walk in and think it's only a cafe. There also have a range of products on sale like Ottolenghi's cookery books, tahini, zatar, etc. You really need to have a love for food and trying new and exciting flavours to really appreciate the menu and the quality of the food. If that's you then please come and try it out, you won't be...

🥗 Ottolenghi Spitalfields｜A Colourful, Flavour-Packed Paradise for Vegetable Lovers

If you’ve been to London, you’ve probably heard of Ottolenghi — and among all their locations, this Spitalfields branch might just become my favourite. It’s not only healthy, but genuinely exciting in flavour, texture, and presentation.

🌸 Atmosphere The space is minimalist white, but filled with vibrant flowers and beautifully plated dishes — giving it a chic, elevated market feel. The open kitchen and dessert counter are picture-perfect. The vibe is warm and relaxed, perfect for a casual date, a catch-up with friends, or even a solo meal if you’re in the mood for something nourishing.

🍴 What we ordered & loved: 🦑 Octopus with Chana Dahi Expertly grilled — slightly charred on the outside, yet tender and springy. The dish is full of contrast: smoky octopus, mildly spicy red pepper, and slightly bitter kale. Clean and complex at the same time.

🦐 Sautéed Prawns with Fennel and Taramosalata Juicy prawns with a bold yet balanced spice mix. The thinly sliced green apple on top add a refreshing crunch that ties the whole dish together beautifully.

💬 In Conclusion: Ottolenghi is not just a place for vegetarians — it’s for anyone who appreciates bold flavour, clever ingredient pairings, and food that’s been thought through from plate to palate. Highly recommended if you’re looking for something both elegant and satisfying in London.

📌 Tip: Save room for dessert — their cake counter is legendary, and skipping it would be a...